Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the tracheobronchial tree:CT findings in 11 children patients

LIU Zhimin; SONG Lei; YU Tong; GAO Jun; WANG Bei; HU Di; PENG Yun

Abstract：Objective To explore the CT findings of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the tracheobronchial tree in children pa-tients and to improve the radiographic knowledge and diagnostic accuracy. Methods CT findings and clinical features of 11 his-topathologically proved mucoepidermoid carcinomas in 11 consecutive children were reviewed retrospectively. Results The clini-cal symptoms included cough,sputum,fever,wheezing,chest pain and hemoptysis. The patient was proved to be low-grade(n=11) mucoepidermoid carcinoma histopathologically. 2 cases located in bronchus,2 cases in main bronchus,6 in lober bronchus, and one in segmental bronchus. The tumor presented as no-invasive endotracheobronchial well-defined round-like nodule(n=5, 2 locating in lobar bronchus,1 locating in main bronchus,2 locating in bronchus),or intra-and-extraluminal well-defined round-like nodule or mass(n=5,locating in main and lobar and lower bronchus),or intra-and-extraluminal irregular mass and colum-nar sharp (n=1,locating in lobar bronchus). The density of lesion was similar to the muscle and the calcification within lesion was shown in 6 patient on non-enhanced CT. All the tumors had marked enhancement on enhanced CT. 9 cases showed bronchial artery supply. Obstructive changes were found in 10 cases. Conclusion Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the tracheobronchial tree, usually located in lobar bronchus,appears at CT as well-defined lobulated airway mass,marked enhancement and calcification on CT. The bronchial arteries can be displayed in the most cases.